Apparatus for indicating the speed of ships.



R. STAR.

APPARATUS FOR INDIGATING THE SPEED OF SHIPS.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 14, 1909;

955,008. Patented Apr. 12, 1910 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1. TN}

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R. STAR; APPARATUS FOR INDIGATING THE SPEED OF SHIPS.

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R. STAR.

APPARATUS FOR INDIGATING THE SPEED OF SHIPS. APPLICATION FILED MAY14,1909 955,008. Patented A r. 12, 1910.

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APPLIGATION FILED MAY 14, 1909. 4

Patented Apr. 12,1910.

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R. STAR.

APPARATUS FOR INDIOATING THE SPEED OF SHIPS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 14, 1909.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I l iv g?z a 7 g Q umgnunn In 7E and UNITE STAES men , RICHARD STAR, OFNEVI YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE SPEED OF SHIPS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD STAR, a citizen of the United States,resicing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forIndicating the Speed of Ships; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for indicating thespeed of ships, and the object of my invention is to furnish to thenavigator or other officer on the bridge a visual indication at any timeof the speed of ships, the apparatus being so arranged that itcan bethrown into and out of use at any moment.

With this object in view, my invention consists in the construction andcombinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 represents a diagrammatic view,partly in section, of the bow of a ship, showing my apparatus inposition. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the motor, taken on the line2-2, of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section through a part ofthe motor casin showing the parts in the position when the ports areclosed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the motor casing and connectedparts. Fig. 4: is alongitudinal vertical section of the motor. Fig 5 isa cross vertical section of the motor, taken on the line of Fig. 6. Fig.5 is a vertical cross section through the motor casing, the upper pistonbeing removed. -Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the motor casing, with thedriving shaft in section. Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section,showing the intake tube and valves. Fig. 8 is a view of the guide forthe lever operating the intake tube. Figs. 9, 9 and 10 are perspectiveviews of the halves of the double piston. Fig. 11 is a detail view,showing the scale for one of the valve operating rods, and Fig. 12 is across section of the top of the same, showing the means for locking therod. Fig. 13 is a view of one of the end pieces detached.

1 represents a part of a ship, and 2 the bridge thereof, on which ismounted a stand 3, which carries the registering apparatus of anysuitable or desired type, which is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 14, 1.909.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

Serial No. 496,022.

operated by means of a belt or cord or wire at, passing over a fixedpulley 5 and a sliding pulley 6, whose position is governed by thespring 7. The belt 4 also passes around a pulley mounted on the shaft ofthe motor.

The bottom of the ship is provided with a circular perforation, as shownat 8, through which the intake tube 9 is adapted to be moved. This tubeis beveled rearwardly, as shown at 10, so as to offer a resistance tothe water as the ship moves therethrough, causing the water to rise inthe tube 9.

Fitting within the orifice 8 is a tube 11, closely surrounding the tube9, within which the latter is adapted to slide, which tube is secured byright angle brackets 12 to the ships bottom, these brackets being boltedor riveted, or secured in any desired manner to the ships bottom, and tothe tube 11. The top of the box is provided with an ordinary stuflingbox 13 to prevent the water from leaking around the tube 9 into theship. To the shell which forms the outer part of the stuffing boX isbolted a guide 1 1, having a right angled slot 15, and in this slot arod 16 is adapted to slide, which is provided with an operating handle17 and which engages with a projection on the top of the tube 9. WVhenthe tube 9 is out of use, the rod 16 is lifted until it reaches the topof the slot 15, but when it is desired to use the same, the handle ispushed down, pushing the tube 9 into the position shown, in a somewhatexaggerated manner in Fig. 7, the handle 17 being then turned, so thatthe rod 16 engages in the horizontal portion of the slot 15, thusholding the tube 9 in the position shown in Fig. 7.

Attached to the tube 11, near its bottom, is a valve casing 18, withinwhich is located a gate valve 19, operated by a screw rod 20, having ahand wheel 21, which works through the stuffing box 22. In fact, all theparts of this apparatus may be packed wherever it is desired to preventleakage. WVhen the device is not in use, the tube 9 is lifted, so thatits lower end is above the valve 19, which latter is then closed. Thisvalve 19 then serves the double purpose of supporting the tube 9 andpreventing the entrance of water into the apparatus.

The tubes 11 and 9 are perforated, as shown at 23, these perforationsregistering with each other when the tube 9 is in the position foroperating the motor, as shown in Fig. 7. A pipe 24 is connected to thepipe 11, opposite the perforation 23, and this pipe in turn is connectedto a pipe 25, which leads to the motor. 26 represents a valve casing, inwhich is mounted a gate valve, or other suitable form of valve, which isoperated by means of the screwthreaded rod 2?. On the end of this rod 27is provided an operating wheel 28, of considerable diameter, having itscircumference graduated, as snown in Fig. 7. 29 represents an armfastened to the upper part of the pipe, above the valve casing 2 theupper part of which is bent twice to form the two right angles, andterminates in a pointer 31, op posite the graduated head of the wheel23. The vertical portion of this arm is also provided with a verticalslot 74, (see Fig. 11), and the face thereof is graduated. 0n the rod 27is fixed a sleeve 32, provided with a pointer 33 which pro ectsoutwardly through the slot in the part 29. By this means, the positionof the valve in the easing 26 may be regulated to a nicety. Thehand-wheel 28 may be located above the pipe 24, as shown in Fig. 7, orbelow it, as shown in Fig. 1. The hand-wheel 23 and the arm carrying thepointer are perforated, so that they may be locked together by'anysuitable means, as by a padlock 75, (see Fig. 12).

The construction of the motor is shown in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive. Itconsists of a casing 33, in which is eccentrically mounted the operatingshaft 34, which carries on its upper end the pulley 81, loosely mountedthereon, which drives the belt 4. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this casingis composed of two parts, one part, 33, of which is of uniform thicknessand subtends a circular arc of about 210, as shown in Fig. 2. The otherpart, 35, of the casing is much thicker, and is secured to the partbybolts 36, suitable packing 37 being used between them.

38 represents the upper head, and 39 the lower head firmly bolted toboth of the parts 33 and 35, a packing, such as 40, being used toprevent leakage. The upper head 38 is provided with a cylindricalextension 41, having a stufling box 42, through which passes the shaft34, and the lower head is provided with a recessed extension 43, withinwhich the lower end of the shaft 34 engages, as indicated in Fig. 4.

The interior of the motor casing is divided into two substantially equalparts, the part 33 being provided with an extension 44, and the part 35being provided with an extension 45 in the same plane. These eaten sionsabut against each other, except that in one part they are cut away toleave a circular opening through which passes the shaft The shaft 34 isprovided with a long slot in each of these chambers, as best shown inthe lower part of Fig. 4, and in each of these slots is mounted asliding piston, the pistons, however, in the two cylinders being atright angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 4. These pistons are madeof two similarly shaped, but oppositely placed, halves, as indicated inFigs. 9 and 10, each half consisting of a back plate 46, having raisededges 47, centrally-projecting extension 48, and at the end a roundedprojection 49. The outer end of the part 46 is beveled as shown at 52.

On each end of each half of the piston is mounted a strip 53, havingears embracing the part 49, over which it is slipped endwise, forming ahinge. The outside of the part 49 and the inside of the part 53 arerounded, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the strip may easily move aroundand contact with the interior part of the motor chamber. For example,Fig. 2 shows in full lines and in dotted lines one of said pistons intwo ditt'erent positions assumed by it during rotation. The outer partof the strips 53 is also rounded, so that they may revolve around theinterior of the casing, making a tight joint with very little friction.

The halves of each piston are normally disposed to fit tightly againsteach other, as indicated in Fig. 2, but in case any wear should takeplace, it is my intention that the halves should be gradually forcedapart, so that the strips 53 will always contact with the motor casing,and for this purpose I provide a series of spiral springs 54 between thetwo halves of the piston, (see Fig. 4), to press the halves of saidpiston away from each other. The bottom of the shaft 34 is hollowed out,as shown in Fig. 4, and cut away, as shown at 55, a packing 56 beingprovided, which is pressed by the spring 57 firmly against the bottom ofthe lower piston. The shaft 34 where it passes through the motor casing,is enlarged, as shown in Fig. 4, and the lower end of this enlargedportion is cut away, forming a cylindrical projection 58, which fitsinto the cut away portion of the extension 43 of the head 39, the lowerpart of this circular extension 58 supporting the lower piston.

Water is prevented from leaking around the upper piston by means of apacking disk 59, which is pressed down by a spring 60 against the top ofthe upper piston. 50 represents packing disks which are pressed apart bythe spring 51, and which prevent water from leaking from one chamberinto the other. The part 35 is provided with an inlet port 61 and anoutlet port 62. To the inlet port, the pipe 25 is connected, and to theoutlet port a waste pipe 63 is connected, provided with a suitable valveloeatedin the casing 64. The motor casing is supported on the shipsbottom by brackets or legs 65, or in any suitable manner.

Referring especially to Figs. 2, 4E and 5, it will be seen that the part35 is much thicker than the part to provide an opportunity forconnecting the inlet and discharge pipes thereto, and also forefficiently separating the inlet and exhaust portions of the motorchambers. As shown in Fig. 2, the interior of the part 35 is providedwith two curved portions 66 and 67, which are not curves of the sameradius as the part 33, and present a sharper curve, terminating in acentral upraised portion 68. This extension 68 is cut away, as shown at69, and in the cut away portion is mounted a bar 70, having threestraight sides, but having its interior rounded, against which roundedsurface the strips 53 are adapted to strike. The interior of the part 35may present a greater radius than that of the part 33, but in any caseit should always have a different radius from that of the part 33.Springs 71 normally press the bar toward the center of the motor. Thepart 35 is also provided with a series of deep grooves 72 and 73, thesegrooves extending outwardly over the inlet and discharge pipes,respectively, and said grooves being arranged staggered with respect toeach other, as indicated in Fig. 5, so that there will be no possiblechance for the water to leak pastt-he bar 70.

In practice, I find it desirable to transmit the motion of the shaft 34*to the indicating apparatus by means of a slow-down gearing, such asshown in Fig. 1, as, under ordinary conditions, the shaft 3% revolvesmore rapidly than it is desired to revolve the parts of the indicator. Itherefore mount on the shaft 34 a fixed gear wheel 76, which meshes witha loose gear wheel '77, carried on a stub shaft 78, mounted on the topof the motor casing, and which gear wheel 77 has attached to it asmaller gear wheel 79, which gears with a larger gear wheel 80, looselymounted on the shaft 3r, but connected with the pulley 81, over whichthe belt 4: runs.

The operation is as follows z-W'hen the apparatus is to be thrown out ofuse, the tube 9 is pulled up, with its lower end above the valve 19, andthe latter valve is then closed. This supports the tube 9 and preventswater from entering therein, thus shutting off the operation of themotor. The wheel 28 is always locked, except when adjusting the motor.

hen it is desired to use the apparatus, the valve in the pipe 63 isopened, the valve 19 is opened, and the tube 9 forced down into theposition shown in Fig. '7, as already described. The position of thevalve in the casing 26 has already been accurately adjusted by means ofthe screw rod 27 and the wheel 28. Owing to the shape of the lower endof the tube 9, water is forced upwardly through said tube, passingthrough the pipe 25 into the inlet opening 61, which communicates withboth chambers in the motor casing. As the pistons in said chambers arearranged at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 5, the motorwill always start promptly, no matter what the position of the pistonsmay be. Owing to the fact that the shaft 3% is mounted eccentrically inthe motor casing, the water entering the apparatus forces the pistonsaround in the direction of the curved arrow shown in Fig. 2. hen eitherone of the pistons has reached a position, as indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 2, the water commences to leak past the strip 53, and passes outthrough the groove 72 into the outlet port 62, and is thence deliveredby the pipe 63 out through the bottom of the ship. Meantime, theoperation of the pistons drives the shaft 34, and which, by means of theslow-down gearing already described, drives the belt 4, which, in turn,operates the indicating device mounted upon the bridge. The officer atthe bridge, therefore, by observing this indicator, can tell at once thespeed of the ship, the parts having, of course, been previously testedon a measured course.

lVhile I have thus described my invention, I do not limit myself to theexact details shown and described, as obviously these could be variedconsiderably without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for indicating the speed of ships, thecombination of a motor, inlet and outlet pipes connected to said motorand passing through the ships bottom, both of said pipes being providedwith suitable valves, a pipe slidably mounted in said inlet pipe, avalve normally supporting said pipe within the ship when the apparatusis not in use, and means for lowering said movable pipe with its endbelow the ships bottom and for locking the same in this position whenthe supporting valve is open, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for indicating the speed of ships, the combination ofa motor, inlet and outlet pipes connected to said motor and passingthrough the ships bottom, both of said pipes being provided withsuitable valves, a pipe slidably mounted in said inlet pipe, a valvenormally supporting said pipe within the ship when the apparatus is notin use, means for lowering said movable pipe with its end below theships bottom and for locking the same in this position when thesupporting valve is open, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for indlcating the speed of ships, the combination ofa motor, an indicating device mounted on the bridge, connections betweensaid motor and said indicating device, inlet and outlet pipes connectedwith said motor, each of said pipes being provided with a suitablevalve, graduated means for adjusting the position of the valve in theinlet pipe, a pipe slidably mounted in said inlet pipe, a valve in saidi 'tions of said Wheel, substantially as deinlet pipe adapted to supportthe slidable valve when the apparatus is not in use, and means torlowering and locking said movable pipe when said last-named valve isopen, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for indicating the speed of ships, the combination ofan inclicator mounted on the bridge, a motor mounted in the ship, andconnections including slow-down gearing between said motor and saidindicator, valved inlet and outlet pipes connected with said motor, apipe slidably mounted in said inlet pipe and having its lower end openand beveled, a second valve in said inlet pipe adapted when closed tosupport said slidably mounted pipe, and means for depressing and lockingsaid slidable pipe with its end below the ships bottom when said valveis open, substantially as described.

In an apparatus for indicating the. speed of ships, the combination ofan indicator mounted on the bridge, a motor mounted in the ship,connections between said motor and said indicator, inlet and outletpipes for said motor, a valve in each of said pipes, the valve governingthe flow in the inlet pipe, being provided with graduated means foradjusting its posit-ion, and with means for locking it, a pipe slidablymounted in said inlet pipe and adapted to have its lower end pushed downthrough the ships bottom, a second valve in said inlet pipe adapted whenclosed to support said slidable pipe inside the ship, and means fordepressing and locking said slidable pipe with its lower end below theships bottom when said last-named valve is open, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a device for indicating the speed of ships, the combination of anindicator, a motor, inlet and outlet pipes for said motor, a valve ineach of said pipes, and means for adjusting the position or the valve inthe inlet pipe, consisting of a screw-threaded rod attached to the valvein the inlet pipe, a screw-threaded sleeve carrying a pointer, saidsleeve engaging said rod, a slotted graduated arm over which saidpointer moves, a hand wheel having a graduated circumference, said wheelbeing attached to said rod, and a polnter earned by sald slotted arm andlocated near the graduascribed.

7. In a device for indicating the speed of ships, the combination of anindicator, a motor, inlet and outlet pipes for said motor, a valve ineach of said pipes, and means for adjusting the position of the valve inthe inlet pipe, consisting of a screwt-hreaded rod attached to the valvein the inlet pipe, a screw-threaded sleeve carrying a pointer, saidsleeve engaging said rod, a slotted graduated arm over which saidpointer moves, a hand-wheel having a graduated circumference, said wheelbeing attached to said rod, a pointer carried by said slotted arm andlocated near the graduations of said wheel, and means for locking saidwheel and said arm together, substantially as described.

S. In an apparatus for indicating the speed of ships, the combination ofa motor, valved inlet and outlet pipes for said motor, a second valve insaid inlet pipe, a pipe slidably mounted in said inlet pipe and havingits lower end open and beveled, said pipe being adapted to rest uponsaid second named valve when the apparatus is not in use, an armprovided with a rightangled slot, said arm being connected to the top ofsaid inlet pipe, and a handle connected to said slidable pipe and havinga reduced portion engaging said slot, whereby said slidable pipe may bepushed down through an opening in the ships bottom and locked,substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for indicating; the speed of ships, the combinationof a motor, devices whereby water is caused to flow through said motoras the ship moves, an indicator, and connections between said motor andsaid indicator, including a cord, a guide pulley for said cord, and aspring-pulled sliding pulley engaging said cord, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I atfix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

RICHARD STAR. lVitnesses:

II. T. MCKEEVER, GEO. B. Pins.

